What I’ve learned from job hopping for 8 years

I’ve gone into many many many chinaman and unorganised companies. This is the summary of my experience so far.

Disclaimer: I know it’s not easy to find a job now. If u are currently employed and wondering whether to jump to another job, this could b ur gauge whether to jump. If u’re unemployed and just need a job, don’t be picky

1. Avoid ‘company confidential’ ads. Company confidential are recruitment companies. The company appoints recruitment companies to save costs rather than hire a permanent HR dept. In general, they are chinaman company, always on cost savings. Except for some instances, Eg Hartalega was posting it on Jobstreet and appointing recruitment companies. For info, Hartalega is a good company to join.

2. Ensure that the company has a proper HR department.

3. Avoid family business where the directors or top management are family members (eg. daughter or son) of the biggest boss. This is called second generations. They have no idea how to lead and most of the time donno what they are doing. They did not work their way up from the bottom. Do ur research online if they are family members (same surname and too young to be at a high position). If brother/ sister of biggest boss, it’s okay. If biggest boss kids or wife is top management, AVOID. Except for few instances like Hartalega

4. Is the turnover high for the boss’s secretary? If you can find out, it will be informative. The closest person to the boss is the secretary. If the secretary post has a high turnover rate, avoid. Eg of high turnover secretaries: TopGlove, Berjaya, Naza, Genting, Tropicana Corporation. This shows there is a problem wit the boss, rather than the secretaries

5. During interview, ask how many staff there are. Those small company (1-50 staff) tends to micro manage. Except startup companies

6. During interview, if they ask:
a) why did u leave ur last company?
b) why is there a gap in employment?
c) why this this this company short term only?
AVOID going into this company. They are focusing on your faults and NOT ur expertise

7. Ask ur interviewer, for ur role,
a) what happen to the previous person?
b) how long did the previous person stay?
c) why previous person left?

8. DO join companies which interview focuses on your experience and expertise.

9. During interviews, look around the company. Are there ppl there smiling and laughing? How is the office and table structure? OBSERVE. A good layout plan of office is important because it reflects how organise the company is. Eg. The most disorganized layout plan i've ever been to is BP Healthcare

10. How is the biggest boss (May be your direct or indirect boss)? Does his employees look up to him? Does he hav compassion? Does he hav a DAUGHTER? Bosses who has daughters are more compassionate.

11. Look up Jobstreet and Glassdoor review. Crucial. Try and join Aon Best Employers companies. More info here: https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4901395

11. A good company will tell you their benefits up front (during signing of offer or even during first interview), without u needing to ask them. The HR will tell u willingly and not hiding and the HR is happy being hardworking and informative.

12. As for salary, a good company will not negotiate salary. They will giv the salary U ask for. There is not a need to bring up salary topic

13. Is the turnover high for the boss’s secretary? If you can find out, it will be informative. The closest person to the boss is the secretary. If the secretary post has a high turnover rate, avoid. Eg of high turnover secretaries: TopGlove, Berjaya, Naza, Genting, Tropicana Corporation. This shows there is a problem wit the boss, rather than the secretaries

14. If can, ask the HR whether HR’s KPI also includes turnover rate. If it does, it’s a good company. More info here : https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4901395

15. Observe the HR interviewing you. Does she show concern? I had an interview before where the HR told me “I look nervous and pale” which it was true. And she consoled me to relax.

16. Avoid companies that post jobs on jobstreet on weekends. It means the HR works on weekends. Unless u are prepared to work on weekends, avoid

When u’ve entered the company already, observe:

1. How is the structure of the organisation chart? Is it well planned? Is it a clear path? Ensure u and other staff only report to ONE person.

2. How does the biggest boss manage? When there are mistakes or a problem, who does he goes to? Does he go to the GM or straight to the employee tat did the mistake. Avoid a company tat the biggest boss goes straight to the employee to find fault. There must b a clear line of authority

3. I once joined a company where, one person was head of HR, customer service, legal, etc etc, but she is not a GM or a VP. She was just a kuli, doing paper work like preparing ‘letter of offer’. AVOID

4. Avoid companies where manager always changes or managers who are only under contract. And they keep restructuring

5. Find out what’s the turnover rate like in the company and whether HR’s KPI is concerned wit turnover rate. A good company’s HR’s KPI is also based on the turnover rate. HR are the one’s who partly makes decision to hire people. It’s part of their responsibility for retaining the staff

6. How are the staff attitude towards the bosses? Positive or complains? Are the staff always complaining about the bosses? Not one, but majority. If one, u can sweep under the carpet. If many, start browsing jobstreet.



Anything else to add?

This post has been edited by taiping...: Dec 9 2020, 10:28 AM

A good company will tell you their benefits up front (during signing of offer or even during first interview), without u needing to ask them. The HR will tell u willingly and not hiding and the HR is happy being hardworking and informative.

As for salary, my current company did not negotiate wit me. They gav me the salary I asked for. I did not need to bring up the topic of salary.

Thanks for this question. I will include this into my post.

I am lucky to hav land my current job. It is a good company, hence that's why i can compare my current experience with the companies i joined before. My plan is to retire here if possible and if given a chance I would stay.
This is after at least 70 interviews and entering into at least 10 companies in a span of 8 years. It was a tough ride

This post has been edited by taiping...: Feb 3 2020, 04:40 PM

In that case, observe the receptionist or even if there is a receptionist. IF there is no receptionist, I suggest to AVOID. If there is, How is she like. Happy, friendly, smiling, willing to help?

I’ve once had tat kinda interview. The receptionist was terrible. She was rude and unfriendly and there was no proper table and chair to fill up the application form. I had to sit on the sofa and write. This shows how disorganised the place is. Also, the receptionist did not suggest for me to go into the room where the interview was held (lobby) for my ease to fill up the form.

In addition, during the interview, the head told me they are going through a restructuring cause many were laid off. And she admits tat is currently very messy. She is a new head and she even probe:

a) why did u leave ur last company?
b) why is there a gap in employment?
c) why this this this company short term only?

She should instead focus on my experience and expertise

The head also said must work on weekends and whenever needed. She also said I hav to assist many more heads. I don’t only need to report to her. In a long run, this would cause a lot of confusion.


I knew it was not a good company then already

This post has been edited by taiping...: Feb 2 2020, 02:51 PM

Yes, they will focus on ur strength

As for colleagues, the most important person to gauge how the company colleagues and culture is like is through the receptionist and HR interviewer. How is their communication skill and how helpful they are. If the receptionist is happy, means she is adequately appreciated by all the other colleagues

There is definitely no perfect company, but there are above average companies to try and target and decide whether to jump company

Am glad if it’s of help!

I’ve been into perhaps about 10 companies. Least, 6 months. Longest, 2 years

I hav no advice for internship cause am not in HR

I am not saying they are NOT successful. Am talking about working for them. This is after all jobs and careers section.
They may be successful in their products and services. But internally, management wise we don’t know. Berjaya is successful too, no doubt, but working for them is another story.

Also, I am talking about Malaysia, the third World country here. Not US, not Germany. Not international companies

Family business in terms of their kids being in top Managment.

This post has been edited by taiping...: Feb 2 2020, 04:31 PM

Good luck!

Wow! Good tips for how to reply in interviews and how to face interviews. Nice sharing

I've not personally ask HRs that. But i've been into companies with VERY high turnover rate. Eg. BP Healthcare
The high turnover rate is well known in Lowyat forum and Glassdoor
The moment i stepped into the company, colleagues also told me it's high turnover
The turnover rate was so high that staff there have a game of guessing how long the new employees can last when they step in.

This post has been edited by taiping...: Feb 3 2020, 04:44 PM

Thanks for sharing. So true...

Glenmarie

It's tough being in a niche industry.
But at the same time, u can get higher pay (i think)

How do you analyse the SSM?